News and Commentary Archive for September, 2005

September 1, 2005: Off to Arizona!  The website will be dormant over the Labor Day weekend as we attend the NFRA National Convention and host its opening Goldwater Reception.  We'll have a full post-convention report posted just as soon as we return.  FYI, all website orders through yesterday have been shipped.  We hope you receive and enjoy your "Condi Gear" over the holiday weekend.

September 1, 2005: Rice has the President's Ear was the theme of Anne Gearan's Associated Press article appearing in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and elsewhere.  Her Oval Office access and the trust underlying her "teacher-student" relationship with the President give her the clout and influence she needs to act decisively as Secretary of State.  For the present time, at home and abroad, everyone knows that she speaks for the President -- which is excellent preparation for after the 2008 election when she'll speak AS the President.

September 2, 2005: First Condi TV Spot  to debut tonight at the NFRA Convention in Scottsdale after Councilwoman Glorious Johnson speaks at the opening Goldwater reception.  Immediately thereafter, it'll be posted on the website.  (Look for it this evening between 10pm and midnight.)  Then, our first television production will air across the country, as fund-raising permits, with an emphasis on early primary states.  Focus groups that viewed the spot said that it held their attention -- something    that is very unusual for a 60 second political advertisement.  Do you want to see this first television spot for Dr. Rice in 2008 on a television in your market?  Then, donate NOW!  Organize fund-raising events NOW!  This is the next step in our mission to see that Dr. Rice will become "Madame President."

September 2, 2005: Note to NFRA Attendees: the convention hotel, the Chaparral Suites, Internet System will not allow PayPal payments to be made for Condi Gear.  Sorry for the inconvenience, please make your purchases when you arrive home or see us personally at the Convention.

September 4, 2005: NFRA Report: Our sponsorship and attendance at the NFRA National Convention was a qualified success.  Whether it becomes the unqualified success that we hope for remains to be seen as we return home and try to implement our ideas and plans for the future that were hatched in Scottsdale.  Many of us got to meet each other for the first time face-to-face and plan for the future in a way that the telephone and e-mail cannot match.  We got to unveil our first TV Spot and begin the serious fund-raising to air it in a variety of key states.  (Check back frequently, we hope to have an exciting announcement about this soon -- pending negotiations to air these spots.)    We got to speak to many conservative Republicans about Dr. Rice and address their concerns regarding her oft-quoted, but incomplete, "reluctantly pro-choice" self-description.  Having Councilwoman Glorious Johnson address the convention as our speaker at the opening Goldwater Reception helped immeasurably.   (We're going to post her Convention Speech soon.)  She previously ran on the Right to Life ticket in 1992 against Charlie Rangel in Harlem, and she has accepted the position of Florida Chairperson of Americans for Dr. Rice.    Glorious was "glorious" as she told the convention that she was "on a mission" to see Dr. Rice elected in 2008 and why she supports her.  We repeatedly informed other attendees about Dr. Rice's statements regarding the abortion issue such as:

"I'm very comfortable with the president's view that we have to respect and need to have a culture that respects life."
"I'm a strong proponent of parental choice, of parental notification. I'm a strong proponent of a ban on late-term abortion."
"...agree with those who do not favor federal funding for abortion"

See our Issues page for more information on this and other important issues. 

We also got to cement relationships to the blogosphere with "Little Miss Atilla," a Condi supporter who traveled from California to report on the convention.  We were challenged by other conservatives on a variety of issues about our support of a Condi candidacy in 2008.  Far from being offended by these challenges, we welcome them -- especially from fellow Republicans.  If we cannot explain our positions to our friends, we certainly will not be able to be convincing to others.  For example, many of the advocates for tax reform were quite pointed in their questions to us about Dr. Rice's economic policies.  (Too bad Peter Stevens, PhD, "Dr. Pete," wasn't there, he's written extensively on the subject.  He will be at NFRW next weekend and maybe they can speak with him there.)  As a loyal member of the administration, Condi's tax policy is, necessarily, the Bush tax policy -- especially since this is not her responsibility at this point as Secretary of State except as it impacts US foreign policy.  However, this is the advantage of having a candidate whose guiding moral principles clearly are demonstrated by her past performance, professionally and personally.  While she hasn't come out with a position paper on taxation (and it would be inappropriate for her to do so at this time), it is clear that her history as a fiscal "hard-ass" (her words, not ours) at Stanford where she had to make many difficult, and frequently unpopular, decisions as she rescued that institution from over a billion dollars in debt bodes well for her ability to elucidate an economic and tax policy that, when combined with her strong beliefs in personal responsibility and Libertarian-like limitations on government intrusiveness will satisfy most conservative tax reformers.  But, as important as tax policy is, we view Dr. Rice, primarily as a "national security" candidate for 2008 -- much in the same way Bush was in 2004.  She represents an opportunity to keep a "steady hand on the wheel" of the "ship of state."  After all, without a secure nation your tax policies are irrelevant.

Last, but not least, we were able to meet such notables as Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, the Convention Chairman; Greg Parke, a Senate candidate from Vermont working to "retire" the Socialist Bernie Sanders.  Please visit his website and support his campaign -- of course after you generously contribute to us first!  Jan Brewer, candidate for Arizona Secretary of State, was an exhibitor and needs Arizona voters to help with her upcoming election.  We also had the pleasure of dining with some of the California Republican Assembly attendees.  It has been said that no Republican gets elected in California without the help of the CRA  -- with the possible exception of recall elections.  And although small geographically, the NFRA contingent from the state of Rhode Island was present and brimming with pride and confidence as they prepare to give a certain incumbent Republican Senator a very bad case of "primary indigestion."  Visit their website for further details.

But one of the most intriguing developments of the NFRA convention from our perspective was the almost universal display of anti-McCain 2008 stickers by the attendees -- especially since we were in Arizona!  What's even more interesting is that grassroots organizations and individuals are paying for these stickers and distributing them at their own expense.  Check out the Arizona Legislative District #11 Republican Committee website.

Not a bad way to spend a Labor Day weekend, don't you think?

September 6, 2005: Condi Newsfeed back up.
We're happy to announce that our newsfeed editor, who prefers to remain anonymous, has recovered from some recent health difficulties and is back to work editing items from the Condi newsfeed to which many of you have subscribed.  Don't be surprised if your "Inbox" is full of Condi-related news items as she catches up with the Condi-news since August 31st.  If there are any volunteers to take her place editing the newsfeed, please e-mail us.

Condistas at the Grand Old Opry!
 Jeffrey Jenkins, our West Tennessee Chairperson, and Peter Stevens, PhD, our East Tennessee Chairperson (a.k.a. "Dr. Pete") have arranged for us to go to the 33rd Biennial National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) Convention, September 8-11, 2005, in Nashville, Tennessee.  There will be no time for rest after we return from the Scottsdale, Arizona, NFRA Convention from the previous weekend where we'll be unveiling our first television spot.  We're going to Nashville to recruit, inform, and fund-raise.  (Hey, after we produce a TV spot, we have to put it on the air -- AND THAT COSTS MONEY!)  If you live in the Nashville area, contact Jeff or Dr. Pete and let them know.  We're going to need help staffing the exhibitor's table.  See you there!
Note: Condi was the NFRW "Cover Girl" on their Spring 2005 issue of The Republican Woman.

September 6, 2005: Condi returns to Alabama.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Secretary Rice, while coordinating offers of help from over 60 countries, returned to her home state over the Labor Day weekend to attend church with storm victims.  (Click here to see the Fox News report.)  She assured them that Washington was paying attention to their plight and dispelled the myth, put forward by such race-baiting publicity seekers as Jesse Jackson that relief efforts by the federal, state and local authorities have not been as vigorous as they might have been because many of the victims were poor and black.  This is a new low to the depths to which the left will descend as they try and promote their political agenda by fostering racial division and hatred in our country.  Of course, the underlying political agenda of the critics of the administration's response to Katrina is predictable.  Had the President, or Dr. Rice, rushed immediately to the disaster area they would have been accused of political opportunism and appearing for the most advantageous "photo ops."  But since they waited until the security situation stabilized so that their presence would not unduly interfere with the re-establishment of law and order, they are now falsely accused of being "out of touch," or insensitive to the needs of those suffering.

September 6, 2005: Late, better than never!
We finally received the video clip from WHO-TV News of our National co-Chair Crystal Dueker being interviewed while she was in this critical primary state raising funds and organizing the leadership for caucus night 2008.  Click here to watch it.

September 7, 2005: Condi vs. Hillary
The new Dick Morris book is coming out this fall, but advance copies still are not available.  We were hoping to have them for the NFRW convention this weekend.  Just as soon as we can, we'll post a review.  Meanwhile, the cover art certainly gives us a "feel" for the book's contents.  It can be pre-ordered from Amazon.  (We have no financial interest in the sales of this book.)

September 8, 2005: "She didn't seem like just another politician out on a photo op."  This was quoted in The Montgomery Advertiser in an article entitled Doctor Answers Katrina's Call.  Each one of us has our own reasons for supporting Dr. Rice for the Presidency in 2008, but it is obvious to many of us that there is something unique about our Secretary of State that engenders respect and admiration.  (We have no idea if the physician quoted in the article is a Condi supporter, or not.)  Some would call it "charisma."  But call it what you will, it is that intangible essence that makes her an unstoppable candidate: intelligence without condescension, competence without over-confidence, over-achiever -- not overbearing.    This is the reason that people pass your car on the interstate (assuming that it has a "Condi" bumper sticker on it) honking their horn, waving and giving you the "thumbs up."  It is the reason for the spontaneous expressions of support when you wear a "Condi" lapel pin to work.  It is the reason that people gather around your car in the Wal-Mart parking lot asking you where you got your "Condi" bumper sticker."  It is the reason that your workout is interrupted at the gym when you wear a "Condi" t-shirt.   It is this rare, elusive ingredient that the rest of the crop of Presidential hopefuls for 2008 lacks.  (An unnamed, anonymous administration official put it more succinctly, "she doesn't confuse being knowledgeable, authoritative, assertive and a woman with the vernacular term for a disagreeable female canine.")  FYI, the complete quotation from Dr. Charles Cloutier was:
"In the two or three minutes I spoke with her, I liked her," he said. "She is obviously a very intelligent woman. She didn't seem like just another politician out on a photo op."

September 9, 2005:  The NFRW Convention is underway and Condistas are "on the ground" carrying the message.  Yesterday, our convention table was set up and many supporters of Dr. Rice got to meet each other, face-to-face for the first time.  The National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) Convention is being held in Nashville this weekend.  Click here for more information.  Here's an early report "from the trenches" by "Dr. Pete," our East Tennessee chairperson.
Today was for booth set-up, but Crystal and I entertained visitors for 5+ hours selling gear and showing the new TV ad. It was a hoot!

September 10, 2005: Republican Women show support for Condi in 2008!  To say that the response at the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) convention in Nashville exceeded our expectations would be an understatement.  Literally hundreds of the attendees signed up to volunteer, donated to support the airing of our television spots, and purchased Condi Gear.  In fact, almost everything we brought with us was "sold out" down to a few remaining samples and a box, or two, of bumper stickers -- and the convention isn't over until tomorrow!  (Don't worry.  We'll be restocked in a week or two.)  Hundreds more passed by our display at the convention.  We'll post photos as soon as we have them.  Interestingly, no other groups supporting 2008 Presidential candidates were there.  Did they already give up?

September 11, 2005: "Ground Zero" 9-11 Ceremony.  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Governor George Pataki, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Dr. Rice spoke at a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that changed America.  Join us in our thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families, the US Armed Forces deployed at home and abroad, and our nation. God Bless America!

September 12, 2005: "The Alabama Gang" (as Sandra, Glenda and Penny came to be known) were in Nashville this past weekend from Dr. Rice's home state to attend the NFRW Convention.  They were also there to show their support for Condi in 2008.  This photo shows them proudly displaying one of our t-shirts at our convention display -- before they sold out.  Our success at NFRW was due to the efforts of volunteers, like the "Alabama gang," coming together to work towards our goal of seeing Dr. Rice elected President in 2008.    Thanks and congratulations for a job well done! 
 

September 14, 2005: More from Nashville.  The good news keeps coming in from reports about Nashville.  Jeffrey Jenkins and Crystal Dueker have written a few comments for our Discussion forum, TEAM CONDI.  (Which everyone should join if they haven't already.)  Click here to see the discussion thread "How to Work a Convention.  Better yet there are more photos (in higher resolution) like the one below of Dr. Pete, Crystal, and Jeffrey Jenkins.

September 14, 2005: Condi on "The Factor"
Fox News is airing promotional spots today for an interview of Dr. Rice with cable's famed host of the "No Spin Zone" on the O'Reilly Factor.  See you local listings for air times.September 15, 2005: Condi tames O'Reilly was the consensus opinion around "here" as Dr. Rice deftly handled her interview with the vociferous, sometimes obstreperous, bloviator himself.  (Is "bloviator" a real word?)  You can read a transcript at the State Department website.  Bill avoided any questions about 2008, but the Fox News editorial board interview -- her "warm up" for the No Spin Zone -- asked and got the response: "I don't want to run for office....I didn't run for class president."  (Emphasis ours, but that's why we call it a draft.)   No Shermanesque pledge was demanded and none was given.
(Addendum: Michelle Malkin dubbed the following the "Quote of the Night" on her popular blog.  We'll post the video soon.)

MR. O'REILLY: Does it hurt your feelings when some anti-Bush people say that you're a shill for him and sold out your race?
SECRETARY RICE: Oh, come on. Why would I worry about something like that? Bill, the fact of the matter is I've been black all my life. Nobody needs to tell me how to be black.

September 16, 2005: Who was that girl?
While at the NFRW Convention, a "page," came by our display table and said that we needed a campaign button that says, "I Like Rice." -- a la President Eisenhower.  Since we're inspired by the Eisenhower draft, this really impressed us that a teenager would come up with this great idea rather than some of us who are old enough to remember when Eisenhower actually was President.  Look for the new button to be available soon.

September 16, 2005: National Review's Eric Pfeiffer published more details of our exploits in Nashville at the NFRW Convention in his column, THE BUZZ.  Eric is no stranger to the Condistas.  He always seems to know what we're doing -- sometimes even before we know what we're doing!  The TV Spot hasn't even run yet, but the interest in "all things Condi" is almost overwhelming.  We promise that you'll be impressed with our on-air debut -- and you won't have to wait very long.

September 16, 2005: Beltway Buzz.
The Washington Times Greg Pierce reported in his Inside Politics column today on our success at the NFRW, Nashville, convention where we raised the money to air our TV Spot.  Stay tuned for further details on when and where it will air.  If current negotiations are successful, we'll have our on-air debut on a major network outlet during season premiere week.

September 16, 2005: "Well, shut my mouth."
If Bill O'Reilly were a Southerner that's what he would have said after his interview with Condi on Wednesday night.  Here's the video excerpt of the Michelle Malkin blog's "Quote of the Night" taken from that interview.

September 20, 2005: Condistas in Iowa. GOPFest, sponsored by the Polk County, Iowa, GOP was visited by some Republican presidential hopefuls.  (Find out who at their website.)  But in spite of our lack of "star power," we were there with our latest addition to the AFR family, Kavon Nikrad, of Minnesota and Crystal Dueker, a "rolling stone" that travels the country spreading the message of Condi in '08.  (Of course, even though she's a "rolling stone," you'll never hear her humming Mick Jagger's Sweet Neocon as she crisscrosses the country in her Mini Cooper.)  Many of the 800 attendees expressed their support (32 became donors) and comments such as:
"We are so glad your group is organized to do this to put her on the ballot".
were typical.  Also, the Quad City News report of the poll showing support for a Dr. Rice candidacy in 2008 among Iowa Republicans was a hot topic.  (It showed Condi with the backing of 30.3% of those asked.  Senator McCain was a distant second at 16% and Rudy Giuliani third at 15% -- both of whom were outdone by "undecided.")


September 20, 2005: Not Again!  Hurricane Rita is threatening South Florida today and is threatening to shut us down with power outages and interruptions in Internet services this week.  Almost all website orders are all ready in the mail through September 16, 2005.  The remainder will go out this weekend -- assuming that postal service is not interrupted.

September 22, 2005: ABC network show in 2005.  Reality come November 4, 2008?
Tuesday, September 27, 2005, 9 p.m. Eastern will be the premiere of the ABC network show Commander-in-Chief.  It stars Geena Davis as Mackenzie Allen, the female VP of a Republican Chief Executive, who has a stroke, leaving her, an INDEPENDENT, the next in line to the Oval Office.  This premise for the series sounds more like a sitcom than a drama.  However, it is another indication, on top of a number of polls, that the US is ready for a woman as President.  We haven't seen the premiere and hope that it will be more than "West Wing in high heels."   Unfortunately, ABC's promo clips are not encouraging.  The online series promo was sponsored by (Are you ready for this?) Stayfree Advanced Protection when we watched it -- "Designed to protect new moms against sudden bladder leaks."  What marketing genius at the network was responsible for this?  This struck us as just a little too stereotypical -- especially since President Mackenzie is the mother of three in the series AND it's the first image you see before the actual promo rolls.  Not that there's anything wrong with "bladder protection" products for men, or women -- nor serious discussions of incontinence; it just seems like a stereotypical pitch to the all important 18-35 female market demographic.  We hope that this doesn't portend story lines laden with other stereotypical roles and issues.  Or if it does, at least we hope it will manage to walk the fine line between sexist cliché and political correctness while remaining a serious, adult drama.  (Of course, who ever would have thought that President Bush's recent "bathroom break" note at the UN would have become a major international news event?)

ABC is putting major bucks into promoting the series as evidenced by the billboard above spotted along the Florida Turnpike (during Hurricane Rita, no less).  Reports by Condistas nationwide confirm that these are popping up across the country.  There is even an "official Mackenzie Watch" website online before the premiere episode.   You can watch the promos here.  Evident in even these short clips are the evil, mostly white, male (and presumably sexist and racist) Republicans encouraging her to step down because the country "isn't ready" for someone without testicles in charge.   Donald Southerland (an evil Republican that's about as believable as Alan Alda as a Republican in West Wing.) has a flashback to Invasion of the Body Snatchers when he ominously declares, "We can save this country.  We can save it from her."  (Watch the promos if you think we're exaggerating!)  Of course, we expect such bias from a major US network and mainstream media.  Like alcoholics and sexual deviants, "They just can't help themselves."  They are "programmed" to denigrate everything that is not in agreement with their liberal "Weltanschauung."   Hopefully, the entertainment value will distract us from the nauseating moments of political correctness and stereotypes.  In spite of it all, we admit that we'll be watching -- albeit with our peanuts and "air sickness bag" that we lifted from our last Jet Blue flight handy, just in case.  What about you?

September 23, 2005: NASCAR and Condi support wounded troops.
This is an item that didn't get "picked-up" by the mainstream media.  Earlier this month, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Dr. Rice appeared at a NASCAR tribute to wounded troops.  Also in attendance were top NASCAR drivers, Army Brass, and Country Music stars Aaron Tippin, who performed You've Got to Stand for Something and Lee Greenwood who performed God Bless the USA (shhhh...Don't tell the ACLU!) and other hits.  Here are a few excerpts from the AFIS article:
"They defend everything we believe in. It's very important that the troops know that all Americans support them. And although their job may be difficult, they've got a lot of people behind them," driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. said....Army Staff Sgt. Justin Shellhammer, 26, who lost his left leg when he stepped on a land mine in Afghanistan on April 5 returned the appreciation. "It's awesome that the NASCAR guys have come out to support the men and women who got hurt. The support is important because it shows that what we're doing is not going unnoticed," he said....Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a special guest appearance and immediately recognized that the crowd was not gathered to see her. "You're here to see the wonderful drivers of NASCAR, and so am I," Rice said. "This is an opportunity that NASCAR has given us to salute the men and women in uniform for the exceptional service they are giving to this country."  Rice then thanked the staff of Walter Reed by calling them the "greatest pit crew in the World."


September 25, 2005: Commander-in-Chief House Parties.  This Tuesday at 9 pm Eastern, ABC will debut their new, widely anticipated series starring Geena Davis and Donald Southerland, Commander-in-Chief.  The organization, The White House Project, "Advancing Women's Leadership," has posted a list of "White House Parties" across the country on their website where there will be viewing parties for "you and your friends."  (Are we Condistas invited?)  The group has gotten some press attention, as well.  (See the Diane Carman article from The Denver Post.)  However, as much as we think that the "glass ceiling" for female politicians needs to be broken, we are much more interested in who that woman is.  Not just any woman in 2008, but THE woman in 2008, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. 


September 26, 2005: The New York Post is the first major media outlet to break the story of our purchasing air time on the season premiere of ABC's Commander in Chief on WMUR, Channel 9, in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Geoff Earle's article appears in today's Post.

September 27, 2005: Dr. Rice's "girl Friday" is a man!  Yesterday, in a Knight Ridder Tribune - Dallas Morning News article, G. Robert Hillman, writes about Condi's faithful assistant, Jim Wilkinson.  He is truly an "unsung hero" who received too little recognition when he stood up to armed, AK-47 wielding thugs in Sudan who assaulted and "roughed up" the members of the press and others in Dr. Rice's entourage in July.  His role as "senior advisor" and the ultimate "go-to guy" is highlighted in Hillman's article.  Hats off to Mr. Wilkinson!

September 27, 2005: Commander-in-Chief?  No, it's "Condi-in-Chief" according to the Wall Street Journal !  In the WSJ Political Diary, John Fund mentioned our television debut on WMUR, Channel 9, in New Hampshire on the premiere of the much anticipated ABC series "Commander in Chief."

"Score points for the grassroots activists trying to draft Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for president for seizing on the opportunity to create some political synergy...The ad is simple and even a bit hokey but it perfectly fits the image of an upstart group of volunteers trying to draft a candidate. The Condistas, as the pro-Rice activists call themselves, may be tiny in number but they just bought themselves a lot of free publicity with their well-timed $8,000."
 
(Hat tip to our inside the beltway, "card-carrying Condista" Nancy for the above posting.  You know who you are!)


September 30, 2005: Infomercial for Hillary?
Those "Brits" say the darndest things!  The Guardian reporter Gary Younge subtitled his article about ABC's new series Commander-in-Chief  yesterday with: "Republicans say TV drama is ad for Hillary Clinton."  Of course, we ran a real ad on the ABC outlet, WMUR, in New Hampshire and had a jolly good time doing it!  This underscores the second subtitle: "US faces possibility of all-female election."  He points out that this fall there are two books coming out: CONDI vs. HILLARY by Dick Morris (Who in spite of being the recipient of one of our Condi '08 coffee mugs, still hasn't sent us an advance copy!) and The Case for Hillary Clinton by Susan Estrich.
The article also mentions the White House Project, a "non-partisan" group, with Arianna Huffington, Gloria Steinem, and Eleanor Clift listed under "Look who's participating" on their website.  (Yep, sounds non-partisan to us!)  Mr. Younge must have flunked high school biology as demonstrated by the following quotation:
The show, which has been greeted with mostly favourable reviews, is more than just the West Wing with a Y chromosome.  (FYI, Women have two X chromosomes.)
In any event we are quite pleased with the reaction to our television debut.  We were able to interject a little balance into the premiere night of what Luke Montgomery called "Super Tuesday for Hillary supporters."  (He was quoted in Associated Press reporter Caryn Brooks' article, Ladies first (or at least eventually): Will reality follow Geena Davis' TV presidency?)  "Cartoon producer" Bob Kunst of HillaryNow.org finishes the article with, "Hillary must have friends at ABC.  This is just too much of a coincidence."   That's right, and that's why we thought that our first television commercial needed to aired this past Tuesday.